August 14/99 3:32 am - Skelton Wins National DH Title!

Posted by Editor on 08/14/99

Skelton Takes Title

Rocky Mountain's Daamiann Skelton has taken the Elite Women's National Downhill title, much to her surprise. When told that, unofficially, she was the Å’99 champion she looked stunned and said "you're kidding." Skelton was racing on an injured ankle, damaged yesterday in the Dual, and said immediately after the race: "I raced very conservatively, the ankle is pretty sore." Last year's champion Lorraine Blancher (Schwinn Homegrown) was second, over 2.5 seconds back, and Canada Cup champion Sylvie Allen (Giant) a distant third, nearly 11 seconds back.

Weather conditions are perfect - hot, sunny and clear. The riders, for the most part have not changed their set ups from the wet training runs, and are just taking different lines. The course is described as "great, fun, the best course of the Canadian series." It is a technical course that offers "something for everyone."